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Denis Potvin wore number 5 for the New York Islanders between the 1973-74 and 1987-88 seasons. He played so well wearing that number that he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1991 and his jersey number 5 was retired by the New York Islanders.

When you talk about the best defensemen to ever take to the NHL ice, Denis Potvin's name has to be front and center in the conversation. Beginning his career with the Islanders at 20 years of age (he was drafted at the minimum age of 20 with the first overall pick in the 1973 NHL draft), Potvin made an immediate impact during his rookie season with the Isles, scoring 54 points during the 1973-74 season (17 goals, 37 assists).

Potvin would increase his point total over the next two seasons going to 76 and then 98 points in his third NHL season. He would finish his career, playing only with the Islanders, with 1,052 points (310 goals, 742 assists).

As for awards, Potvin would win the Norris Trophy as the NHL's best defenseman, three times (1975-76, 1977-78 and 1978-79), and would be runner-up once, to a guy you might have heard of named Bobby Orr. He was also awarded the Calder Trophy as NHL Rookie of the Year in 1973-74.

Potvin was, of course, a key member of the Islanders' four straight Stanley Cup Championships in the early 1980s.

Did you know........Potvin's number 5 was the first number retired by the New York Islanders?